Briquette forming and baking machine



Aug. 18, 1931. w. c. CARPENTER 1,819,277

BRIQUETTE FORMING AND BVAKING' MACHINE Filed oct. 9, 1929 s sheets-sheet 1 llil l 55 l 44 l 37 will I i Y I 27 *IS-INI Aug, 18, 1931. w. c. CARPENTER BRIQUETTE FORMING AND BAKING MACHINE Filed Oct. 9. 1929 3 Sheets-S1196?l 2 Aug. 18, 19?1- w. c. CARPENTER 'BRIQUETTE FORMING AND' B AKING MACHINE Filed Oct. 9, 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet'l 3 Patented Aug. 18, 1931 narran stares PTNT OFFICE BRIQUETTE FORMNG AND BKING- MACHINE Application filed october 9, 1929. seriai No. 398,520.

My invention relates to a fuel briquette forming and baking machine and has for its principal object, the provision of a relatively simple, practical and eflicient machine that may be economically employed for the protection of fuel briquettes from comminuted cellulosic material suoli as sawdust, shavings, straw and the like.

My present invention is an improvement on the briquette machines set forth in U. S. Letters Patents issued to me January 10th, 192s, NOS. 1,655,534 and 1,655,535.

Further objects of my invention are, to

generally improve upon and Vsimplify the construction of the briquette machines setforth in my aforesaid patents, as Well as other forms of similar briquet-te machines, to provide a machine wherein an intermittently rotating frame or member carries a "series of tubular dies into which the pulverized briquette material is forced under pressure and which compressed material is intermittently forced through the dies as succes- L... vsive charges of compressed material are forced into the receiving ends of the tubular dies; further, to provide simple and efficient meansA for baking the compressed briquetteV material while the same is in the dies, which baking, carbonizes and hardens the surfaces dof the bodies of compressed material within the dies, thereby providing the finished briquettes with comparatively hard, moistureproof surfaces that will enable the briquettes -to be handled and transported without break- "age or disintegration and likewise enabling the briquettes to be stored for a considerable time, without being affected by varying temperatures and further, to provide a machine -shaving a-cooling chamber that is effective in 4a materially reducing the temperature of the briquettes immediately after they are formed and baked, so that the briquettes may be con` veniently handled immediately after they Y-have discharged from the machine.

v Further objects of my invention are, to

provide improved means for feeding the comminuted cellulosic material to tubular dies as the same are brought successively into position in line withl a reciprocating plunger; further, to provide simple and efficient means for regulating the pressure eX- erted by the jaw or plunger that forces the briquette material from the feeder into the path of travel of the compressing plunger; further, to provide means whereby the dies are provided with liners or bushings that are readily removable so'that they may be renewed or replaced when they become worn or unfit for service, due to the high pressures bined forming and baking dies are arranged k:

in a rotary carrier and to mount and sup port said carrier so as to effectively resist the relatively high pressure strains that are developed by the plunger that forces the briquette material from the feeding chamber into and through forming and baking dies.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, my invention consists in certain novel l features of construction and arrangementof parts that will hereinafter be'more fully de'- scribed and claimed and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. l is a vertical section taken lengthwise through the center of a briquette forms ing and baking machinerof my improved construction. y

Fig. 2 is a vertical cross section taken approximately onthe. line 2 2 of Fig. l. 90

Fig. 3 is an enlarged longitudinal section taken through the center of one of the briquette forming andbaking dies.

Fig. 4t is a cross section taken on the line l-4: of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is an elevational view of one of the aubular members that forms an extension for the tubular dies and which member extends through the cooling chamber of the machine. i

Fig. 6 is a cross section taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a rear elevational view of my improved briquette forming and baking machine.

Fig. 8 is a cross section taken on the line 8 8 of Fig. 1.

Referring by numerals to the accompanying drawings, which illustrate a practical embodiment of my invention, 10 designates a base frame that supports' my improved briquette forming and baking machine and supported on said frame is an upright plate 11, through which is foi-med an opening for a horizontally disposed plunger 12, which latter is utilized for forcing the briquette material into the tubular dies. This plunger ma-y be reciprocated by any suitable means. Arranged around the opening in the plate 11, through which this plunger re- A`ciprocates, is a stuffing box 13 that is effective in preventing briquette material from discharging outwardly through the plunger opening while said material is under rela- Ntively high degrees of pressure.

Formed integral with and projecting outwardly from plate 11, directly below the opening for the plunger 12, is a U-shaped bracket 14 from the outer end of which depends a plate or flange 15. Arranged within the U-shaped member 14 is a channelshaped bushing 16, against which the lower half of the plunger 12 engages during its reciprocating movements.

Positioned directly above the bracket 14 and the bearing 16 is a rigidly xed vertically disposed lhousing 17 having a wide front plate 17a and leading upwardly from the side of said housing is an inclined chute v18, through which the comminuted briquette material feeds by gravity into the chamber within said housing.

Arranged forv reciprocatory movement within the chamber in housing 17, is a material feeding plunger or head 19, and projecting upwardly from the ends of this head are arms 20 that' extend a substantial distance above the upper end of said housing.

This feeding head or plunger 19 may be elevated in any suitable manner, either by mechanically operated means or by iiuid pressure actuated means and after being elevated to permit a charge of briquetting material to pass downwardly through chute 18, said head or plunger lowers by gravity. The amount ofpressure exerted by the head or plunger onv its downward movement, is regulated by means of avr series of weights 21,r that are detachably arranged on the upper portions of the arms 20 and by varying` the number of weights the degree or amount of pressure may be very accurately regulated. Y

The underface of the head or plunger 19 is formed with a half round groove or channel that cooperates with the corresponding channel in the lining or bushing member 16 and thus when the head or plunger is at its lower limit of travel, a charge of precompressed briquette material fills the cylindrical chamber between the lower end of the head or plunger 19 and the half round lining or bushing 16.

Arranged on the outer face of the plate 11, directly below the bracket 14, is a comparatively large anti-friction bearing. 22, that supports the inner end of a tubular shaft Formed integral with or fixed to this shaft 23, adjacent to the bearing 22, is a disc 24 that serves as a support for the inner ends of the tubular dies, and secured to the face of this disc, adjacent to the bearing 22 is a smaller disc 25 that is provided in its edge with equally spaced notches 26.

Mounted for operation in suitable bearings below the plate 11, is a shaft 27 on which is secured a disc 28, the latter being positioned near the lower portion of disc 25, and projecting from said disc 28 is a pin 28a that is adapted to successively enter the notches 26 in disc 25 as shaft 27 is rotated and as a result of this arrangement, intermittent rotary movement is impartedto the die carrier, comprising the shaft` 23 and disc 24.

Disc is provided with a cooling medium circulation chamber 29 which has communication with the chamber 30 in tubular shaft 23 through apertures 31 that are formed through the wall of said tubular shaft.

Formed integral with or fixed to the outer end of shaft 23 is a disc 32, the edge of which is widened' to form a ring 33. This ring is supported for rolling movement on grooved wheels or pulleys 34 that are journaled in suitable bearings on the base frame 10.

In order to resist the relatively high strains that are imposed on the upper portion of disc 24 while plunger 12 is compressing the briquette material in the dies an arcuate plate 35 is rigidly fixed in any suit'- able manner, preferably by means of bolts to the outer faceofthe plate 17a and formed on the outer lower edge of this thrust bearing plate is a depending flange 36 that engages over the edge of disc 24, (see Figs. 1, 7 and 8).

Removably seated in the outer portions of the discs 24 and 32 are the end portions of a series of briquettes forming and baking dies, each of which comprises an outer shell or housing 37 that is tubular in form and that portion of each tube that is seated in the disc 24 has its wall increased in thickness as designated by 38. Formed on the end of this portion ofincreased thickness is an integral, flange 39. The opposite end of each shell or tube 37 is slightly enlarged, as designated by 40, said enlarged portion is seated in the ring 33 and said enlarged portion is internally threaded as designated by 41.

Removably seated in the inner end portion of each shell or housing 37 and within the portion 38 of increased diameter is a removable liner or 'bushing 42 of relatively hard wear resisting metal and, it is Within this liner or bushing, that the briquette material is compressed by the plunger 23 as it travels toward the bushing or liner 42 and which latter performs the functions of a forming die. K

In order to permit the liner or bushing 42 to be removed in the event that it becomes worn or unfit for service, an aperture 43 is formed through the shell 37 at a point just beyond the inner end of the liner and which aperture is of sufcient size to receive a punch and which latter, when driven inwardly, will eXpel the liner from its shell.

Arranged within the housing or shell 37, between the inner end of the liner 42 and the internally threaded end 40, is a tubular liner 44 of relatively hard wear resisting material and in order that this liner may be readily inserted and removed when it becomes Worn or unfit for service, a longitudi nally disposed slot 45 is formed in the shell 37 between the enlarged end portion 38 and 40, and seated in the shell to the sides of this slot are bolts 46 which, when tightened, tend to contract the slotted portion of the shell, thereby clamping the inserted liner.

Formed through the wall of the liner 44 is a row of apertures 44a that communicate with the slot 45 in the shell 37, which apertures are for the purpose of permitting the escape of gases and volatile matter that are liberated while the compressed briquette material is being baked during its passage through the tubular members.

If desired the shell 37 and liner 44 may be provided throughout their lengths with coinciding conical apertures 44b for permitting escape of thek gases and volatile matter from the briquettes while the same are being baked. (See Fig. 3.)

The tubular diesand chambers kjust described, are in direct radial alignment with the notches 26 in the disc 25 and they driving means for the rotary carrier is arranged so that one of the dies and baking chambers is brought into direct alignment with the plungerV 12 and the U-shaped member 16 each time the rotary carrier is 'partially rotated.

Screw-seated in the outer end of each shell or housing 37 is a tubular member 47 that is provided throughout its length withY short longitudinally disposed slots 48l and the outer ends of these tubes are seated inthe outer portion of a disc 49. Surrounding the entire series of slotted tubes 47 is a sheet metal shell 50 that extends from the edge of disc 49 to ring 33 and secured to said ring 33 inside the circular row of tubes 47 is a sheet metal disc `51.

The chamber within shell 50, between the discs 49 and 51 andA which is occupied by the slotted tubes 47 constitutes a cooling chamber for the briquettes as they pass through the slotted tubes and in order to accelerate cooling action air at normal temperatures, or artificially cooled, may be delivered into the cooling chamber through a suitably located supply pipe 52.

The briquettes upon being discharged from the outer open ends of the cooling tubes 47 may be received in a suitable receptacle or upon an endless conveyor (not shown).

Arranged beneath the rotary carrier and between the discs 24 and 33, is a heating appliance which may be of any desired form and construction, although I prefer to utilize a pair of curved headers 53 that receive gaseous fuel through a suitably arranged supply pipe 54 and connecting said headers are burner tubes 55, preferably diamond shaped in cross sect-ion and provided at their apiees with. jet openings. As a result of this arrangement direct heat from the jets of Vburning gas is delivered directly unto the tubes that contain the compressed briquette material and this heat is suliicient to discharges outwardly through a short tube 57 that is seated in the open inner end of shaft 23. In the event that water is utilized as the cooling medium, a suitable trough 58 is located beneath the outer end of the Adischarge tube 57.

During operation of my improved briquette forming and baking machine, shaft 27 is continuously rotated and as a result of the engagement of pin 28a in the notches 26, therotarv die carrier comprising shaft 23 and discs '24 and 32 is intermittently rotated and at each period of rest, one of the tubular dies and baking tubes is positioned in alignment with the reciprocating plunger 12. Y'

The movement of the rotary die carrier is effected while the plunger 12 is being withdrawn and, while the lplunger is at its limit of movement away from the die, the head or material feeding plunger 19 moves downwardly 'so as to force a partially compressed charge of briquette material, which has entered the chamber within housing 17 through chute 18,. into the substantially cylindrical chamber formed between the chanlaneled underface ofplunger 19 and the chan- "nel-shaped bushing 16.

@n the forward movement of plunger 12, this charge of partially compressed material, will be forced with great pressure into lgsthe forming die comprising the enlarged end w38 of shell 3T and the liner l2 and the pressure of the material into the die will be yieldingly resisted by those charges of ina-- terial previously forced into the dies.

1li@ These compressing operations or forcing of the charges of material into the dies, are continued in rapid succession and as the new charges are: forced into the forming dies, those charges within the respective dies will 2Q be forced forwardly through the baking "chambers ofthe dies comprising the slotted portions of the housing 37 and which slotted portions are lined with the tubular members 44'. l

2,51- As the compressed charges pass through `the baking chambers, they are subjected to heat. from the burner located below the rotary carrier and; this heat is controlled by suitable means, so as to char and carbonize 3Q kvthe surfaces of the briquettes to the desired degree andy after being thus baked, the briquettes passthrough the cooling tubes i7 to effect a material reduction in the temperature of said'briquettes and finally said bri- Qguettes discharge fromthe outerends of the tubes 47, into a suitable receptacle or onto an endless conveyer.

Ifnasmuch as the baking of the briquettesV to carbonize their surfaces materially hard- 40. ens said' briquettes and particularly the charred or carbonized surfaces thereof, said briquetteswill withstand comparatively roughusage while being handled or transported to the points of use and said carbonl-ized surfaces will also afford protection for Mthe, briquett'es:v against disintegration due to temperaturey changes.

While the briquettes are being baked, certain gases and volatile matter will be thrown Qf`ofl. and such gases will find ready escape through the outlet apertures 47 and which latter are preferably tapered so that they.

forming die or liner 42 and with a removable liner ist for the baking chamber, and further, each shell or housing has removably connected to its rear end, a slotted tubular member that functions as a cooling chamber for the briquettes after the same lhave been formed and baked.

It will be understood that minor changes in the size, form and constructioin of the various parts of my improved briquette forming and baking machine may be made and substituted for those herein shown and described without departing from the spirit of my invention, the scope of which is set forth in the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a briquette forming and baking machine, a rotary carrier comprising a tubular shaft anda pair of discs, one of which discs4 is hollow, the chamber therein having communication with the chamber in the tubular shaft of the carrier, a series ofcombined briquette forming and baking dies carried by said discs and means for circulating a fluid cooling medium through the chambers within said tubular shaft and hollow disc.

2. In a briquette forming and baking machine, a rotary carrier comprisinga tubular shaft and a pair of discs, one of which discs is hollow, the chamber therein having communication with the chamber in the tubular shaft of the carrier, a series of combined briquette forming and baking dies 'carried by said discs, means for circulating a fluid cooling medium through the chambers within said tubular shaft and hollow disc and a heater arranged beneath the rotary carrier and the dies carried thereby.

3; In a briquette forming and baking machine, a rotary carrier comprising a shaft and a pair of discs, a series of combined forming` and baking dies carried by said discs, a bearing for one end of the shaft for said rotary carrier, means forsuccessively feeding charges of briquette material into the forming and baking dies, means engaging a portion of the carrier for resisting the thrust strains developed by the material feeding means and a rolling support for the rear lower portion of the rotary carrier.

4. In a briquette forming and baking machine, the combination with a material feeding means and a reciprocating plunger, of a rotary carrier, a series of combined forming and baking dies carried by said carrier, means for intermittently rotating said carrier to bring said dies successively into alignment with said plunger and a thrust bearing engaging the upper portion of said rotary carrier for resisting the strains developed by the plunger while forcing briquette material from the feeding means into the forming and baking dies.

5. In a briquette forming and baking machine, the combination with a material feeding means and a reciprocating plunger, of a rotary carrier, a series of combined forming and baking dies carried by said carrier, means for intermittently rotating said carrier to bring said dies successively into alignment with said plunger, a thrust bearing engaging the upper portion of said rotary carrier for resisting the strains developed by the plunger while forcing briquette material from the feeding means into the forming and baking dies and a rolling support for the lower rear portion of said rotary carrier.

6. In a briquette forming and baking machine, a rotary carrier, a series of combined forming and baking dies mounted on said carrier, a material feeding chamber, a plunger arranged for operation Within said feeding chamber and means for regulating the downward pressure of said plunger.

7. In a briquette forming and baking machine, a rotary carrier, a series of combined forming and baking dies mounted on said carrier, a material feeding chamber, a plunger arranged for operation within said chamber and weights removably arranged on said plunger for regulating the downward pressure thereof.

8. In a briquette forming and baking machine, a rotary carrier, a series of combined forming and baking dies mounted on said carrier, a material feeding chamber, a plunger arranged for operation within said chamber, weights removably arranged on said plunger for regulating the downward pressure thereof, means for elevating said plunger and a plunger arranged for operation through the lower portion of the said box for forcing briquette material from said feed boX into the forming and baking dies.

9. In a briquette forming and baking machine, a combined forming and baking die comprising a tubular shell, a bushing removably arranged in the receiving end of said die and a bushing removably arranged within the rear portion of said die.

l0. In a briquette forming and baking machine, a combined forming and baking die comprising a tubular shell, a bushing removably arranged in the receiving end of said die and a bushing removably arranged within the rear portion of said die, which last mentioned bushing is perforated.

1l. In a briquettevforming and baking machine, a combined forming and baking die comprising a tubular shell, a bushing removably located in the receiving end of said die, the rear portion of the shell being slotted, a bushing removably located in the slotted portion of said shell and means for clamping the slotted portion of said shell around the bushing therein.

l2. In a briquette forming and baking machine, a combined forming, baking and cooling die comprising a shell, a bushing removably arranged in one end of said shell, a bushing removably arranged in said shell vto the rear of the first mentioned bushing and a slotted tube detachably connected to and projecting fromthe rear end of said shell.

13. In a briquette forming and baking machine, a combined forming and baking die comprising a shell having an enlarged .end portion, a hardened metal bushing removably arranged in the enlarged end por tion of said shell, a perforated bushing removably arranged in the remaining portion of the shell and means for clamping'said perforated bushing within said shell.

14. In a briquette forming and baking machine, a combined forming and baking die comprising a shell having an enlarged end portion, a hardened metal bushing removably arranged in the enlarged end portion of said shell, a perforated bushing removably arranged in the remaining portion of the shell, means for clamping said perforated bushing within said shell and a perforated cooling tube connected to and projecting from the rear end of said shell.

15. In a briquette forming and baking machine, a rotary carrier comprising a hollow shaft and a pair of hollow discs, a plurality of combined forming and baking dies arranged on said carrier, means4 for intermit tently rotating said carrier, a combined feeding and pre-forming chamber arranged in front of one of the discs ofthe carrier and coinciding with the path of travel of the combined forming and baking dies, a plunger arranged for operation through the. lower portion of the combined feeding and pre-forming chamber and adapted to force charges of pre-formed briquette material from said chamber successively into the combined forming and baking dies, a plunger arranged for operation within the combined feeding and pre-forming chamber, means for heating the combined forming and baking dies, means for effecting a circulation of fluid cooling medium through the hollow shaft and hollow discs, a series of cooling die-s projecting from the ends of the combined forming and heating dies and means for effecting a circulation of cooling medium 16. In a briquette forming and baking machine, a rotary carrier7 a series of combined forming and baking dies mounted on said carrier, a material feedingchute arranged above the path of travel of the inlet ends of said dies, -the lower portion of which feeding chamber is V-shaped, a material yfeeding plunger arranged for operation within the feeding chamber and the lV-shaped lower portion thereof, the underface'of which plunger is formed with a half Vround channel, an oppositely arranged half round chamber shaped member arranged in the bottom of the V-shaped lower portion of the feeding chamber, means for moving the cplunger downwardly within the feeding chamber until the half round channel thereing occupies a position directly above the channel-shaped member in the bottom of the lfeed chamber, a yplunger arranged to move through the circular chamber formed between the underside of the reciprocating` plunger and the half round member in the bottom-of the feed Chamber, which vlast mentioned plunger forces the pre-formed charge of briquette material from the lower end of the V-shaped chamber into the combined forming and baking dies mounted on the carrier. Y

17. In a briquette forming and baking machine, a combined forming and baking die .comprising a shell having an enlarged end portion, a vflange on said enlarged end portion, a hardened metal bushing fitting Within the enlarged end portion of said shell, said bushing being removable, that porlzion of the shell to the rear of the en* larged end por-tion being slotted, a perforated liner vfitting within the slotted portion of the shell, -the perforations in said'liner being funnel-shape with their smaller ends Vcommunicating with the chamber within 45. said liner, means for clamping the perfo rated liner within the shell and an eXpansible perforated cooling member extending from the rear end of said shell.

In testimony whereof I afiiX my signature.

WILLIAM rCLARENCE CARPENTER. 

